What should I pay for a new shower? Is it worth investing in an energy efficiency one?

I'm thinking about buying a new shower for my bathroom. How much should you pay for a good one and is it worth investing in energy efficiency products?

Feel the heat: A reader asks how much should they expect to splash out on a new shower

A home energy expert, from not-for-profit energy group Ebico, replies: There are a few considerations to make here. One consideration is around the cost of the water its self. I won’t go into this further, but if the house is metered, then you will pay for all water used in addition to the energy cost of heating it.

Showers generally use less water than a bath but it depends on how long people remain in the shower, and whether it is an electric shower, a shower using the domestic hot water, or whether it is a power shower - which uses much more water compared to electric units.

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The type of shower head also has a big influence on cost, as flow restrictors and aeration devices cut down on water and energy required – but can only be used on showers using the domestic hot water system. Aeration devices can be quite effective in that they maintain the sensation of high flow rates, by introducing air to the water.

A recent survey showed that, on average, people shower five times per week, taking an average of nine minutes each time.

The research showed that, if individuals could reduce their shower time by two minutes on each occasion, they could save around £8 per year in energy bills - amounting to around £20 per year for an average-sized household.

Where showers are using the household hot water the cost of the shower is dictated primarily by the cost of the fuel used to heat the water and the efficiency of the boiler.

Gas costs around 6p per useful kWh of energy, an electric immersion heater around 17p per kWh and oil or LPG around the same. For a 9 minute shower, using a 7kw electric shower will cost about 13p.

Home Energy Expert is a free energy advice service from Ebico, the UK’s only not-for-profit energy company.

Home Energy Expert has teamed up with This is Money to answer any burning questions about energy in your home. If you want to improve your energy efficiency and save money then email your question with Home Energy Expert in the subject line to: editor@thisismoney.co.uk.For more information click on to: www.ebico.org.uk